Until - I
NIGEL BANKS, 2024
Until – I merges two side-on facial profiles to form a single, front-on mask, telling the story of an unfolding intimacy between two souls committed to sharing every secret with one another.
The extended title (Until every secret is shared) symbolises newfound openness. The two side-on faces, initially representing separate beings, gradually converge as more secrets are revealed. Eventually, their overlap becomes total, and a new, shared identity emerges—represented by the front-on mask. OK Girl emphasises the importance of both landscape and horizon in defining each person’s intrinsic nature: "We build ourselves out there." In Until – I, OK Girl represents the boldness of vulnerability, progressively opening until every last secret is shared.
Oil, alkyd, polyurethane and gold leaf (24K) over mulberry paper on PVC multiboard.
Find installation info here.
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1 - OK Girl: A symbol of openness and courage, OK Girl stands outside time, fully present in life’s unfolding. In this moment, she embodies the readiness to reach toward the unknown.
2 - Undifferentiated Self: The early, unformed sense of identity — a stage of quiet potential before self-awareness takes shape. It reflects the grounded character’s starting position on the journey toward deeper understanding.
3 - Ego / Self: A symbol of dynamic balance between ego and true self. In this phase, greater awareness steadies the tension between outward identity and inner truth.s.
4 - Constellations — Southern Cross & Matariki: Markers of the mystical and the permanent. They provide a sense of place and time for a yearning that is personal.